Tzedek Blog

March 2023

“Continue to speak out against all forms of injustice to yourselves and others, and you will set a mighty example for your children and for future generations.”
—  Bernice King

Reproductive Justice
We are having a virtual meeting of the Repro Justice Task Force on Wednesday, March 8 at 7:30. It's our first gathering to discuss our plans for advocacy and creating post-abortion packets for clients of the Health Q Center in Lawrence, MA. Please contact Wendy Case at  wbcase@aol.com  or Susan Goodman at  susan.d.goodman@gmail.com  to join our effort!

Reproductive Justice, by definition, goes beyond the pro-choice/right to life debate. Its primary principles include 1) the right not to have a child; 2) the right to have a child, and 3) the right to parent children in safe and healthy environments. To that end, Temple Shalom member Joy Elbaum has stepped forward to serve as our representative on JALSA's Rapid Response Team. JALSA is following several bills in this MA legislative session that are concerned with issues including free school lunch, access to early education, and affordable housing. Joy will be alerted when action is needed on these bills, such as making calls to state reps or attending hearings. 

Please contact Joy at  j.elbaum@verizon.net  to receive these notifications. We hope that everyone who receives the Tzedek email will sign up and advocate for issues that improve life for all who live in MA.

Gun Violence Prevention 
Join Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America for an IN PERSON Advocacy Day on Wednesday, March 29 from 12:00-3:00 at the Statehouse to advocate for gun violence prevention legislation and for a comprehensive gun sense bill. There will be a robust line up of speakers, including legislators, community partners, and survivors. Participants will then visit their elected representatives to discuss why this issue is so important. RSVP:  https://forms.everytown.org/a/ma-ch-advocacy-day

TSARP – Afghan Resettlement Update
In February we were delighted to welcome to Shabbat services at Temple Shalom some of our Afghan friends. 6 of the 8 sponsored by the TSARP team were able to attend (the others had work that night). At the post-service “Rabbi’s Tish” we were asked what ongoing support our community can provide to our friends. We mentioned networking help for additional employment opportunities, especially for better-paying entry-level jobs such as bank teller, etc. The one US citizen in the group so far, little Roy Ramish, who was born at Boston Medical Center last June, is growing like a weed and could use outgrown baby/toddler clothes, books, etc. This photo shows Baby Roy’s big sister Hilla, and mom Khurshid.

Of course, our friends would not be where they are today without your incredible support of the TSARP Fund, support that we greatly appreciate. TSARP continues to seek financial support. Our friends’ landlord, Chestnut Hill Realty, has offered them a wonderful opportunity to extend current leases after 8/31, but continued TSARP support will be needed to allow them to take advantage of this offer. You can help by donating at Donate - Temple Shalom and choosing the Afghan Resettlement Project.

Climate Update
Join this virtual program about green heating sources at the Newton Free Library on Thursday March 16 7-9 PM. Register at Hydrogen versus Electricity for Heating Buildings: Green Newton Series (Virtual) - LibCal - Newton Free Library

Food Insecurity

Come Join the Temple Shalom Freedge Team
The Freedge Team makes deliveries every other Tuesday. Description of shifts throughout the day and sign up sheet can be found here https://www.templeshalom.org/freedge#Volunteer
A new local merchant PONDEJOY in Newton Centre is generously donating yummy donuts and have been added to our roster at 8pm, this pick up can be combined with the evening restock of the Freedge if desired. Stop by to say thanks at 212 Sumner Street and treat yourself to a donut!

Newton Neighbors Helping Neighbors Cereal Drive
Call for Cereal! We are hosting a Porch Drive for the Newton Food Pantry and need help making it a success. On your next grocery run please pick up a few extra boxes of healthy, kid-friendly, brand-name boxes of cereal and starting Thursday, drop on the porch of one of our collection hosts. March 2-7.
365 Cherry Street West Newton
21 Mountfort Road Newton Highlands
1775 Beacon Street Waban.
If easier, click and send directly from our Amazon Wish List:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2WZG2KVPJ54AI...

January 2023

BE A PART OF THE UNVEILING OF THE EMBRACE – WELCOMING A NEW DAY IN BOSTON!

Central Reform Temple will lead a procession of interfaith communities, inviting Jewish communities and their partners and friends to gather at Central Reform Temple/Emmanuel Church to walk in procession with a Sefer Torah to join the main event on Boston Common.

The Embrace symbolizes the hug Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. shared with his wife, Coretta, after he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 and celebrates their time in Boston when they met as students. The Embrace will be an important cultural symbol of equity and justice for Boston residents and all those who visit the city and region. It will serve as a permanent monument representing the Kings’ time and powerful presence in Boston, a time that helped shape their approach to an equitable society.

This moment in the City of Boston’s life is an important opportunity to rekindle the vital relationship between the Jewish Community and the African American Civil Rights community that Rabbi Heschel and Dr. and Mrs. King so valued and honored.
WHEN: Friday, January 13th gather for procession at 12:00pm
WHERE: leaving from 15 Newbury Street to the Boston Common
WHY: To witness The Embrace monument installation at 1:00pm.

City of Newton 55th Annual Community Celebration of Martin Luther King

Event information is available at  newtonma.gov/MLK23 . This is a live event but registration is required in case of a health or weather emergency:  bit.ly/NewtonMLK23 .

ISABELLE STEWART GARDNER MUSEUM DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY OF SERVICE MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2023 11 AM - 4 PM

Honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with stories, sign-making, conversation and music. Artists and thought leaders will share reflections on themes of justice, equity, art, and empowerment, and invite participation in activities throughout the day. For more information https://www.gardnermuseum.org/calendar/dr-martin-luther-king-jr-day-service

And don’t forget: Come join the Temple Shalom Tuesday Freedge Team!!
If you are interested in helping out with shifts for the Freedge you can learn more here https://www.templeshalom.org/freedge.

November 2022

TSARP (TEMPLE SHALOM AFGHAN RESETTLEMENT PROJECT):

The TSARP team updated you last about the Ramish family who was just then moving into Hancock Village in South Brookline, along with our other Afghan friends.  A lot has happened since then!  Little Roy Ramish was born in June and is thriving!  Little Hilla, now 4, is going to preschool, and Dad Ramish and Mom Khurshid both have part-time jobs.  Khurshid’s English is better and better (thanks to tutoring from TSARP volunteers) and the whole family continues to acclimate to their new life here and get in the routine of life with 2 little ones.  Some of you already had a chance to meet the family and others have not yet – now we have an opportunity where a number of people can get a chance to meet them and help out!
 
We’re working to help the family manage their household and budget, including the SNAP and WIC benefits they are receiving. An important part of this is establishing a regular shopping routine and learning how to feed the family healthily within their budget, something that’s especially important in this time of rising food prices. We’re looking for volunteers who can sign up to take Ramish or Khurshid shopping– to the nearby Stop and Shop, Target and/or Walmart (for the best diaper prices). Besides driving them and getting to know them, you would help teach them how to best use the WIC benefits (we can provide documentation to help.)
 
Please respond directly to econnolly@srsmedical.com if you would like to help out, and indicate what times are good for you (e.g. Saturday mornings, Wednesday afternoons, whatever). Based on volunteer availability and Ramish and Khurshid’s work schedules, we’ll set up a schedule for weekly shopping trips.
 
 
GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION:

Gun violence is now the leading cause of death for American children. The most important thing you can do right now to fight gun violence is to VOTE.  Find candidates who are committed to implement better gun laws at www.gunsensevoter.org and vote accordingly. Then call your friends in other states and encourage them to do the same.

NEWS FROM CENTRE STREET FOOD PANTRY:

Pre-Thanksgiving call out for volunteers!  Can you help out on Centre Street?  We are open Saturday November 5th AND Saturday November 19th. Both Saturdays need volunteers in 2 hour shifts between 10AM and 3PM.  We are also often in need of help during the 4-6pm shift on Tuesdays.  Other shifts are needed as well. To register/sign-up, head to our website.  Please share with your friends, family and neighbors! All are welcome.

Help with Kids Club
A Kids Club bag is packed with "kid-friendly" breakfast and lunch foods. Every bag has breakfast cereal, shelf stable milk, peanut butter, jam, cereal or granola bars, fruit cups, dried fruit and extras such as juice, pasta, mac and cheese, soups and tuna.  In December we add hot cocoa and cookies as a treat.  To find out how to participate, check out the Kids Club page.


NEWS FROM NEWTON NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS:

Food Pantry Drivers needed for November.
Our signup sheet for November is now available for folks who can help deliver food to our neighbors unable to get to the food pantries on their own. It takes, on average, about an hour to complete deliveries.
We especially need drivers on the following dates:
Wednesday, 11/9 (Pickup times between 12:15 - 2:45)
Friday, 11/18 (Pickup between 9:00 - 9:15)
Wednesday, 11/23 (Pickup times between 12:15 - 2:45)
Please sign-up using this link.
 
Thanksgiving Gift Card Drive
Did you know that 1 in 10 neighbors struggles to feed their family?   It's a heartbreaking fact and our goal is to help put food on neighbor's tables this Thanksgiving.  Last year, thanks to your generosity, Newton Neighbors served 150 families throughout Newton, Brockton and Waltham with $50 supermarket Gift Cards!  We are launching this much-valued program again and we hope you will help.   Due to the rising food prices we are all seeing at markets this year, our goal is to distribute gift cards of $75 value to each family.   Whatever we raise, Newton Neighbors will distribute the gift cards through partner agencies to families in Newton, Waltham, and Brockton to families in need this holiday.  If you are able to make a donation to help us reach our goal, we know that these families would be so grateful.  Here is the link to donate.  .

September 2022

HIGH HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVE

The tradition continues! Temple Shalom will once again be collecting items for the Newton Food Pantry on Yom Kippor. Requested items include:

• Cold cereal, 12 – 16 oz., tasty whole grain preferred
• Hearty soups: meat, beans, veggie
• Toothpaste
• Shampoo, 12 – 16 oz.
• Deodorant
• Flushable wipes

Help will be needed on October 8th to unload the truck at the Food Pantry located at City Hall. Please contact bruce@ladygrace.com ​​​​​​​if you are able to help and to receive more information.

TSARP (Temple Shalom Afghan Resettlement Project)

TSARP was created in August 2021 to allow Temple Shalom to sponsor an Afghan family evacuated to the US. There was a terrific response from Temple Shalom congregants, along with our friends at Sacred Heart/Our Ladies, Newton Highlands Congregational Church, and more recently the Dover Church and the Islamic Masumeen Center of New England. The response and what we were able to do as a result exceeded our hopes of a year ago! Volunteers prepared and furnished apartments and we were able to welcome four young Afghan Air Force veterans, as well as a family of four who joined us in the spring. We helped them acclimate and get jobs, get needed medical and dental care, and most recently even helped several of them get drivers’ licenses and a no-interest loan to purchase a car! Many of you met our four young men at Refugee Shabbat in March, and many of you volunteered to help with setup, shopping, medical appointments and other critical needs. The TSARP funds raised have been used primarily to pay the largest expenses such as rent, with our friends contributing more and more as they were able, and also to subsidize driving school, and other large expenses. We thank everyone who has been involved for their volunteer efforts and financial support.
 
The TSARP story so far has been a happy one of 8 people who left a desperate situation in Afghanistan and are now productive members of our New England community, The next stage in their journey is to seek asylum, which is the first step towards green card and citizenship status (and the only way they can become citizens.) Unfortunately, the refugee agencies are not able to provide the legal support needed for an asylum application, so we are now facing a large new expense – legal expenses for asylum filings for our friends. We are inviting you to contribute to TSARP to help with these expenses. You can contribute by going to  Donate - Temple Shalom and choosing Afghan Resettlement Project. Thank you in advance for your help!

JALSA/Temple Shalom #LIFELONG Voters Postcarding Campaign

With the important mid-term elections quickly approaching, JALSA (Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action) is offering two postcarding campaigns to get out the vote in Georgia and North Carolina.  Temple Shalom in partnership with JALSA is stepping up our efforts.  We are requesting 300 postcards for each campaign.  Postcards need to be in the mail by late October.  
 
If you would like to participate in this important effort, please contact Susan Goodman, susan.d.goodman@gmail.com or Wendy Case, wbcase@aol.com for more details.  
 
Below are descriptions of the campaigns:
 
The Georgia Strategic Alliance for New Directions and Unified Policies (Georgia STAND-UP) provides research, strategy, technical support, and resource development for grassroots community organizing and non-partisan voter education. Founded in 2005 as a labor/community partnership, STAND-UP has emerged as a champion of community empowerment and progressive advocacy across the South.
 
The New North Carolina Project’s mission is to make politics represent the needs of North Carolinians by investing in communities of color, expanding the engaged electorate and creating #VotersForever.


NEWTON COMMUNITY FREEDGE

We are happy to announce that we have teamed up with Temple Emanuel to share Tuesday Freedge responsabilites.  We continue to support the Freedge every other Tuesday, our next day is September 13th.  We welcome you to join the team of incredible volunteers.  For more information, please check out our website  or contact Temple Shalom Freedge Co-Captain, Nate Powell.


FAMILY ACCESS LITERACY DAY
September 17th, 492 Waltham Street, West Newton

Event will include:

• Ribbon cutting of our Little Free Libraries dedicated to our longtime supporters Audrey Cooper and Louise Hauser.
• Reading with Children's Author Thomas G Sullivan
• Community Book Swap
• Live Music
• Family Arts & Crafts

Admission is Free!

Interested in supporting Family Access’s on-going literacy efforts?

• Donate gently loved books to Family ACCESS ~ 8:00 am - 6:00 pm ~Mon - Fri (children's & parenting books only please)
• Purchase a book off of our Amazon Book Wish List
• Make a donation to our First Book Drive campaign

Please contact Wendy at Family Access with any questions, wvalentine@familyaccess.org.

July 2022

REPRODUCTIVE  RIGHTS

In the light of the Supreme Court’s Roe overturn on Friday, we are all desperate to figure out what we can do to help protect reproductive rights and women’s rights. We came across several good lists with ideas.

The first is from former Globe Columnist Ty Burr:
bit.ly/RoeWYCD

Also this list:
Roe v. Wade: What You Can Do (google.com)
 
A very comprehensive list of resources, broken down by type:
1.      If you’re looking to give money
2.      If you’re looking to talk about abortion
3.      If you’re looking to learn more about self-managing, abortion with pills, or to make an appt at a clinic
4.      If you’re looking to share on social about abortion
5.      If you’re wondering how to speak to kids in your life about what’s happening
6.      If you’re looking to do something politically
7.      If you’re looking for background information about the state of abortion access
8.      If you’re wanting to buy abortion merch
9.      If you’re a business leader looking to take action
10.   If you're wanting to get out in the streets for abortion access
 
Finally, many of you will remember our talk earlier this year by Cheryl Hamlin, the ob/gyn physician who, since 2016, has traveled every month to Jackson MS to provide abortion care to women at the Jackson Women’s Health Organization.  As she can no longer provide these services in MS, she will become licensed in New Mexico to continue this important work.  There is a GoFundMe campaign to help those who need to travel from MS to obtain abortion care.

JALSA/Temple Shalom #LifeLongVoters Postcarding Campaign

Temple Shalom is again partnering with the The Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action (JALSA) in their #LifeLongVoters Postcarding Campaign. This project was first spearheaded by congregant, Arlene Pressman leading up to the 2020 election. As we sadly bid Arlene good-by and good luck in her move to New York, we carry on her legacy during this critical time to protect and enhance our democracy. Thirteen Temple members are currently working on RAZE AZ, a voter registration campaign targeting rural communities in Arizona. They have volunteered to send out 400 postcards by the end of July. JALSA has informed us that there will be a steady flow of work leading up to the all-important midterm elections in November of this year. They are partnering with the New North Carolina Program (NNCP) whose mission is to make politics represent the needs of North Carolinians by investing in communities of color, expanding the engaged electorate, and creating lifetime voters. If you’re interested in joining our postcarding Team (recruiting men especially!), please contact Co-leaders: 

Susan Goodman, susan.d.goodman@gmail.com or Wendy Case, wbcase@aol.com.

DIAPER DRIVE for our Afghan Friends

Did you know a family can spend over $900 on diapers in the first year?  Together we can alleviate this challenge for our Afghan friends and stock them with diapers to help welcome their new baby.  Use this link to have diapers and wipes shipped directly to them. If you would prefer to buy from a different source, please contact Sara at spollock4@gmail.com to arrange drop-off.  Our goal is to provide 13 boxes of diapers for these first few months- we know that the Temple Shalom community can fill this list in no time!  Please contribute today - thank you!